LAPLACE — Many residents seem unaware or ill-informed of issues related to next week’s tax elections that are projected to generate more than $7.3 million annually if approved.

St. John the Baptist Parish residents are being asked to decide April 9 on millage renewals benefiting the library system and health unit. Voters are also being asked by the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board to approve a new .25 percent sales tax that would benefit the public school district.

After polling 14 residents over four days at BaBa’s Sports Bar and Grill, March 26’s East St. John High baseball game and Winn-Dixie, just six residents said they had knowledge of the election.

Of the six, only three knew what was on the ballot. The other eight did not know there was an election.

If passed, the sales tax is expected to generate $2.4 million a year. Revenue from the tax is earmarked for school security, alternative programs, guidance work at the elementary schools, extra transportation and salaries and benefits.

Early voting ends today. If approved, the tax would go into action July 1. The School Board could start seeing revenue from the tax as early as late August.

BaBa’s Sports Bar and Grill owner Lance Oncale expressed a strong opinion against the sales tax.

“They can kiss my … ,” Oncale said. “All it’s going to do is hurt the economy. People aren’t going to spend as much money in the parish. It’s going to hurt me in the long run. People are going to find other places to spend their money. I’m going to vote against it.”

Oncale said he was OK with the tax renewals as long as taxes don’t go up.

Local teacher Erin Bacas said she favored the sales tax after hearing about its benefits from Superintendent Kevin George.

“If the tax is going to help save teachers’ jobs, then, yes, I’m for it,” she said. “As for the renewals, I’m not too familiar with those; yet, but I would be in favor of anything to keep (the Health Unit and Libraries) open.”

The election to renew the St. John Parish Health Unit millage calls for the continuance of a .96 mills tax for 10 years, beginning in 2018, which generates $434,790 annually, according to Parish President Natalie Robottom.

Parish leaders said revenue from the millage goes towards paying two employees the Parish funds, as well as maintenance, utilities, supplies and equipment.

Raymond Anderson, who was walking into Winn-Dixie last week when approached by reporters, seemed proud he knew what was on the ballot, adding he is in favor of the helping the Library System and local schools.

“We need the libraries to help educate our youth,” Anderson said. “Education is the key. If you don’t have education, you can’t move up. You have kids working at these fast food places, but you can’t feed your family on that. Education is important.”

On the other hand, resident Sherri Joseph said she was told about the election but admitted she didn’t know what was on the ballot until reporters spoke with her.

“I’m fine with the renewals,” she said. “As for the sales tax that helps the schools, I feel like they need it. I’ll vote for it, because honest to God, they need it.”

Resident Elizabeth Henderson said all she knew about the election is that taxes were going to go up. In her mind, officials are doing a “horrible job” of getting the word out about the election.

St. John Parish voters are also being asked to decide on the renewal of a 9.94 mills tax April 9 to benefit libraries.

The renewal is for 10 years and begins in 2018. If approved, money generated from the tax is earmarked to maintain, construct and operate the public library branches. Information from the Assessor’s office indicates for a millage of 9.94 mills on a $150,000 home, the owner would pay $74.55 annually. For a $300,000 home, the tax would be $211.50.

Local fans at March 26’s East St. John baseball game expressed a widespread lack of knowledge about the upcoming elections, as few adults said they knew what was on the April 9 ballot.

Only one asked for more information.

“How do they expect me to vote for it when I don’t know about it?” he said.

Baseball coach Jade Falgoust was one of the attendees who knew of the election.

“We had a mandatory faculty meeting before the holidays where the Superintendent explained everything to us and told us to go vote,” he said. “I had to move practice because it was mandatory.”

— Staff writers Raquel Derganz Baker and Lori Lyons contributed to this report.